When U.S. troops invaded Iraq in 2003, they went in with the most sophisticated technology available. Helicopters, jet fighters, tanks, “smart” bombs, etc., were the envy of most other armed forces in the world.

But our troops did not have enough personal body armor and armored vehicles. As a result, some died and were wounded needlessly.

So bad was the situation that some civilians began taking up collections to buy body armor for troops – equipment the Pentagon’s $361 billion budget that year apparently could not support.

Now, body armor is standard issue for those in the military who need it. MRAP (mine-resistant ambush protected) vehicles are common. Who knows how many lives those two changes have saved?

Ashton Carter recently was sworn in as the new U.S. secretary of defense. He succeeds Chuck Hagel, who was forced out of the position by the White House. After taking office, Carter sent an email to all Department of Defense personnel, pledging to exercise “the greatest reflection and care” in sending Americans into harm’s way.

Let us hope so. But many military leaders in the past have said the same thing. So have presidents and members of Congress who seem to pay plenty of attention to multi-billion-dollar weapons programs – and little to protecting individual servicemen and women.

Carter should make it his mission to change that mindset.